What happened
The pilot-in-command was conducting a check ride for another pilot along a designated pipeline route. The co-pilot occupied the left seat and was operating the aircraft controls. During the survey of the pipeline infrastructure, the flight proceeded northward up a canyon toward Douglas Pass.
En route to the pass, the crew reported no turbulence and noted minimal wind effects on the aircraft's handling. As they approached the pass, the pilot-in-command initiated a climb using climb power settings. Approximately one-half mile from the summit and several hundred feet below its peak, the aircraft encountered a significant downdraft.
The pilot-in-command assumed control of the aircraft and applied full power while attempting to turn toward a hill crest to descend into a valley. However, he observed that the aircraft was sinking too rapidly. He subsequently turned in the opposite direction in an effort to recover altitude or position. Despite these efforts, the aircraft crashed at an elevation of approximately 8000 feet.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the meteorological conditions and the flight path relative to the terrain. The primary finding was the encounter with a downdraft near Douglas Pass. No mechanical failures were reported as contributing factors in the provided narrative.